Florida, one of the nation’s coronavirus hot spots, reported another 8,935 cases Thursday for a total of 232,718, and 120 new fatalities — the most yet — to push the death toll past 4,000, to 4,009. The latest positivity rate, at 18.39%, and new hospitalizations are both also the highest on record.

COVID-19 is spreading across Florida faster than anywhere except Arizona.

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Central Florida now has 38,022 cases, up 1,494 from a day earlier. There are 401 new cases in Orange for a total of 15,595, 311 in Polk for 6,206, 154 in Seminole for 3,806, 164 in Osceola for 3,466, 164 in Volusia for 3,234, 173 in Brevard for 2,985, 94 in Lake for 2,181, and 33 in Sumter for 549.

Statewide, the latest positivity rate made available by the Florida Department of Health, for Wednesday, was over 18%.

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To date, 17,167 people have been hospitalized, Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard shows, 409 more than a day earlier — a record jump for one 24-hour period and the first time over 400 hospitalizations have been recorded in one day.

Florida is outpacing the field in new cases and hospitalizations, which have both been on a steady, upward climb. Experts say the double-barred trend could also cause Florida’s low death rate to rise in the coming weeks.

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